Table alarm clock



Feb. 27, 1962 H. .JUNGHANS ETAL 3,022,627

TABLE ALARM CLOCK Filed July 17, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 vll mm. VIII/III,

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TABLE ALARM CLOCK 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 17, 1956 ATTORNEY United States Patent Oilfce 3,022,627 Patented Feb. 27, 1962 3,022,627 TABLE ALARM CLOCK Helmut Junghans, Schramberg-Sulgeu, and Otto Braitsch and Hans Schlenker, Schramberg, Germany, assignors to Gebr. Junghans A.G., Geisshalde, Schramberg,

Wurttemberg, Germany Filed .iuly 17, 1956, Ser. No. 598,472 Claims. (Cl. 58-55) The invention relates to table alarm clocks; the object of the invention is to provide a construction for the clock movement and housing, which permits the extensive use of modern plastic compounds, taking into account the moulding properties inherent in such materials. A table alarm clock according to the invention is characterised by a front'plate, the margin of which is drawn forward flangefashion to such an extent that the usual clock hand gearing and the alarm screw can be disposed in the recess, the front surface of the margin or rim of the plate being designed for mounting and securing the dial and means are provided at the circumference of the plate for clipping on a transparent dial cover for the dial which is provided with a turned-over rim, the said cover at the same time comprising a recess for centering the dial and a seating surface adjoining the recess and fitting the front surface of the plate rim, and also that if necessary holders, feet and a support project from the rim of the front plate and mechanism posts from the back of the said front plate, while the rear housing of the clock comprises a casing which can be pushed with its rim on the rim of the front plate and can be sprung into position thereon, the front plate consisting of a plastically deformable material, preferably a plastic, and the transparent dial cover advantageously also being made of a synthetic plastic material.

Owing to the extensive use of plastic compounds and the processes, for example, injection moulding process, and automatic machines, which are available for the processing thereof; it is possible for an alarm clock constructed according to the invention to be produced at a comparatively low price, without thereby being restricted as to the possibilities of the clock being given a pleasing appearance by suitable choice o-f the materials to be used and if necessary by the surface improvement thereof.

Additional features of the invention relate to the details of :the arrangement and design of the housing and of the clock movement. These features and others will be apparent lfrom the following description of one constructional example, from the drawing and the claims.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a section through a table alarm clock on the line Il II of FIGURE 2, seen from the side;

FIGURE 2 is a section on the line I--I of FIGURE l, seen from the rear of the clock;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary section, seen from the side, to show the details of the means for securing the dial and the arrangement of the switching-off button;

FlGURE 4 is a fragmentary section on the line Illa-Illa of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary section on the line IIIb--Illb of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is a side elevation of the table alarm clock;

FIGURE 7 shows a development of a section through a table alarm clock, completed by the gear components of the clock movement and the alarm mechanism.

The main component of the alarm clock is the front plate indicated at 10; it is constructed as an injectionmoulded or pressed plastic element. Formed on the front plate is a flange-like rim 10a, 1Gb, 10c, and also the supporting posts 16d, a spring-anchoring post 10e, the feet ltlf for the housing and the housing support 10g.

As a result of the forward projection of the front plate rim 10a, a cavity 10R is provided between the plate surface proper and the dial 11, which rests with its rim on the surface 10b, accommodation being provided in the said cavity 10K for the clock hand gearing.

Serving as a transparent cover for the dial is a part 12 which is made of transparent plastic and which will hereinafter be referred to as the glass; it is provided with a bent-over rim 12a, which is undercut at 12b, in order that the glass can be sprung on to an encircling or if necessary also interrupted annular bead lllh on the cylindrical part 10c of the front plate flange.

The glass 12 is also provided with a recess 12a` for centering the dial 11, and also with a seating surface 12d, which fits the front surface of the plate rim. The beaded edge 12a can be so formed on to the middle portion of the glass that a stepped transition to the latter is provided (at 12e) for the purpose of making it non-transparent, for example, by metallisation or another surface-treatment and for adapting it in its external appearance to the other parts of the housing.

The cylindrical part 10c of the housing flange is also formed with an encircling groove 10i; this serves for the engagement of the rim of the cup-shaped rear housing 13 of the clock, the said rim being provided with a suitable encircling bead or separate projections 13a. In order to be able to lit on to the rear housing 13, it is provided with suitable cut-outs 13b for the feet 10j and an opening 13C for the support 10g.

The construction of the rear housing as a casing which can be pushed on also makes it possible for a bell 14 to be screwed on to its inside face or to be permanently xed thereto by rivets. For the same reason, it is possible7 as shown in FIGURE 3, to stamp a recess 13d into the circumference of the housing member 13 so that the switching-off button 15 can be partially concealed. The inwardly projecting recess 13d does not interefere with the assembly of the clock, whereas with the housing construction usually employed and comprising a cover, the mechanism is inserted from the rear and consequently the provision of a recess seating for the switching-oft` button is not possible. and this does in fact have to be provided after the mechanism has been assembled.

The housing cover 13 is shown in the drawing as a drawn sheet metal part, and the same applies as regards the fitting 16 for guiding and mounting the switching-ofi button 15 shown in FIGURES l and 2. However, it can also be permanently fixed on the housing, because it does not interfere with the fitting of the mechanism. It is, however, also readily possible for the casing 13 to be made of plastic.

In order to secure the dial 11 against turning movement on the rim 10b of the front plate flange, co-operating projections 11a and recesses 101 are provided on the dial plate and on the surface 1Gb, respectively, these preferably being formed as minute marks. Another fixing method, namely by means of a pin 17, is shown in FIG- URE 3; whereas it is necessary with the conventional alarm clocks having sheet metal mechanism supports for the pin to be bent over on the rear side, whereby the dial plate may possibly be damaged, the pin 17 is held in the plastic without being bent over. The dial itself can in the usual manner consist of sheet metal or cardboard, but it can also be made of plastic.

As already mentioned, the supporting posts 10d are formed on the rear side of the front plate 10, it being possible for the threaded bearings 10d' either to be formed at the same time or for metal parts to be connected in known manner to the parts 10d. In the example illustrated, the rear plate 18 is also made of plastic; 18a indicates reinforcing ribs, while 18b is the spring post formed on the plate.

The construction of the clock movement and the alarm mechanism can be seen more clearly in FIGURE 7. It is of the type comprising a single driving spring, the drive of the alarm mechanism being derived from the spring, means being provided for limiting the unwinding movement thereof. Arranged between the mechanism plates 1t? and 18 are the spring arbor 19, the spring barrel 20, the driving spring 21, the ratchet Wheel 22, the pawl 23, the spring wheel 24, the train of movement members 25, 26, 27, 2S, 29, extending to the balance Wheel 30. The elements 31 and 32 and the alarm escapement 33 belong to the train of gears of the alarm mechanism. The gear elements of the hand mechanism are indicated at 34, 3S and 36; 37 is the minute arbor and 38 is the arbor for the change wheel 3S with a change wheel pinion 35a formed thereon. The alarm setting arbor is indicated at 39, and 4t) is the alarm wheel with the spindle 39. 41 indicates the so-called alarm-release spring, which in known manner serves the purpose of shifting the alarm wheel 40 mounted for axial displacement on the alarm setting arbor 39 for the purpose of always holding the alarm coupling 40a pressed against the pin 41a.

It will be seen that the front bearing m for the spring arbor 19 is positioned in the space 10R between the front plate 10 and the dial 11. From a constructional point of View, it is to be noted that the arbor 38 for the change wheel 3S and also the pinion 35a formed thereon are anchored in a reinforcing lug 10n of the front plate 10. Another possible construction would be for the arbor 3S to be made of the same material as the front plate 10 instead of being made of metal, in such manner that 1t is directly formed on the said plate. The gearing parts themselves are largely manufactured by the use of plastics, preferably in Vsuch manner that merely the arbors consist of metal, whereas the wheel elements consist of plastic, with the wheel and pinion made in one piece.

With alarm clock mechanism having a single driving spring, in which the drive of the alarm mechanism is derived from the spring arbor, it is necessary to provide a means for limiting the unwinding movement of the alarm mechanism. Such means are in principle well known so that a more detailed description is not necessary herein.

As materials, those which are particularly suitable Within the scope of the invention are the materials which are obtainable commercially under the registered trademarks Nylon, Ultramid, Duritan.

We claim:

l. Table alarm clock of the spring driven type comprising a front plate to support and receive parts of a clockwork and composed of a plastic material, said plate having a peripheral rirn in the form of a ilange and a depressed portion opening forwardly to accommodate a drive for a plurality of hands of the clock and an alarm indicator, a dial for the clock connected to the peripheral rim, a transparent cover for the dial to extend over the latter and said cover and rim having means to spring the cover on the front plate of the clock, a plurality of supporting posts secured to and extending rearwardly from a side of the plate, and a rear plate secured to said supporting posts and spaced from the front plate to accommodate an alarm clock movement.

2. Table alarm clock according to claim 1, in which the cover is provided with an annular recess to center the dial in the clock.

3. Table alarm clock according to claim. 1, in which the cover is provided with an annular recess to center the dial in the clock, and in which a seating surface is provided for the dial and the flange.

4. Table alarm clock according to claim 1, further comprising a housing connected to the rim to cover the back of the clock and which is sprung onto the rim.

5. Table alarm clock according to claim 1, in which means are connected to the front plate to support a change wheel and its drive.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,063,976 Bateholts Dec. 15, 1936 2,559,480 Taegstroem July 3, 1951 2,581,734 Triplett Jan. 8, 1952 2,607,082 Starke Aug. 19, 1952 2,866,940 Lamb Dec. 30, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 374,713 Great Britain June 16, 1932 614,460 Great Britain Dec. 15, 1948 230,526 Switzerland Apr. 1, 1944 1,022,745 France Dec. 17, 1952 1,111,295 France Oct. 26, 1955 

